Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 (NRSV)
Read Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 on biblegateway.com
Verse 15As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, Verse 16John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Verse 17His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
Verse 21Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, Verse 22and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
Devotion
“This is my beloved son.”
From these words, Jesus is able to discern what lies ahead. The echo of what he hears rings back to the Scriptures: “You are my son,” a verse from Psalm 2; “with you I am well pleased,” the beginning of a passage in Isaiah describing the Lord’s servant whose suffering would redeem all of Israel. It is clear that Jesus’ kingdom will not be one of power and glory. It will end in humiliation, on a cross, with his death bearing the sins and shame of the world.
If Jesus had known what was to come, would he have turned back from the river? We don’t know. What we do know is that he took his mission from God seriously. He lived according to God’s will. He accepted the challenges and trials that faced him. He held on to God’s promise of love … the same promise that God gives to you and to me.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I want to take your mission for me seriously. I want to make a difference in the world. Give me courage and strength as I try to do so each day. Amen.